2. Software Inception Flashcards
What is the goal of software inception?
The main goal is to thoroughly understand the problem AND its solution.
List of software inception goals:
+ outline use cases/key requirements
+ identify risks
+ defining target audience
+ establish the scope of the project
+ establish justification or business case for the project
+ prepare preliminary project schedule and cost estimate
Why is it important to have early feedback from clients and users before specifying the system?
“Often times, we think our product is good… and then Mike Tyson punches us in the face.”
Early feedback lets you know if you are headed in the right direction to grow customers. Customer discover can become an iterative process.
What are the nine categories of the business model canvas?
- Key Partners
- Key Activities
- Value Propositions
- Customer Relationships
- Customer Segments
- Key Resources
- Channels
- Cost Structure
- Revenue Streams
Begin with: nine guesses
End with: nine facts
What do you need to know of in terms of:
‘Key Partners’ for your business?
Who are your key partners?
What are your key suppliers?
What are you getting from them… and giving to them?
What do you need to know in terms of:
‘Key Activities’ of your business?
What key activities does your business require? \+ Manufacturing? \+ Software development? \+ Personal concierge service? What will you do as a business?
What do you need to know in terms of:
A ‘Value Proposition’ for your business?
What customer problems are you helping to solve?
What customer needs are you satisfying?
Why will they repeatedly pay for your solution?
What do you need to know in terms of:
‘Customer Relationships’ in your business?
How will you get, keep, and grow customers?
What do you need to know in terms of:
‘Customer Segments’ for your business?
Who are your most important customers?
What are their archetypes?
What job do they want you to get done for them?
What do you need to know in terms of:
‘Key Resources’ for your business?
What key resources do you require? \+ Financial? \+ Physical? \+ Intellectual property? \+ Human resources? How will you support these?
What do you need to know in terms of:
‘Channels’ for your business?
Through which channels do your customers want to be reached? Types of channels: \+ sales \+ distribution \+ support
What do you need to know in terms of:
the ‘Cost Structure’ of your business?
What are most important costs inherent in your business model?
What is the mix of fixed and variable costs?
What do you need to know in terms of:
the ‘Revenue Streams’ of your business?
How will you make money?
What is revenue model?
What are pricing tactics?
What is a value proposition?
Value proposition is the value obtained from the use of the system.
A value proposition statement consists of a target audience, the product, why it is unique, and what value it provides.
How does the value proposition and the software features relate to each other?
Software features are not equal to value propositions, but software features deliver value propositions.
All features only exist because of the main value.
What is the ‘Problem-Solution Fit’ and why it is important?
+ Can you identify and validate a problem or need in the market that enough people care about?
+ Do you have a feasible solution for meeting this problem or need?
How does the ‘Consumer Development’ methodology work?
Consumer development improves product success by developing a better understanding of their stakeholders. It is a balanced relationship between developing a product and understanding the consumer.
List five good practices for conducting interviews.
Here are eight good interview practices:
+ Be open when conducting the interview
+ Ask, “why?” Get an explanation behind their response
+ Prepare a script with a checklist to cover all the topics in
+ Bring a friend to write while you ask questions
+ Avoid “would”, “should”, “do you think…”
+ Seek new information, stagnant information might mean it is time to change questions
+ Don’t sell your product, just be there to listen
+ Finally, ask them, “What did I forget to ask?”
What is confirmation bias and how it can affect the result of the software inception activities?
Depending on how you phrase interview questions, you may receive false-positive confirmations leading you in the wrong direction.
Give an example of a value proposition.
Example: Google -
“Google allows internet users to find relevant information quickly and easily.”
In the example, “finding information quick” is the value delivered by Google.
The statement that it is relevant information and easy to use seems important but these are software features or non-functional requirements to help deliver the value that is finding information quickly.
